Washington, D.C. is the home of our nation's capital and the city itself is one of the biggest suppliers of government jobs in the world. Other governmental agencies are scattered around the D.C.-Metro area in Maryland and Virginia, although most of them are located in D.C. and Virginia, so many people start their search for government contractor jobs in Northern Virginia.

These type of jobs are particularly appealing to many prospective employees because government contracting jobs offer an incredible amount of flexibility and stability. Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin are two of the biggest suppliers of government contracting jobs in the world and offer attractive incentive packages.

Many of these jobs are typically offered to former military personnel, and require security clearance. There are a few different kinds of security clearances: classified, secret, and top secret.

Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin tend to recruit former military personnel specifically because, depending on their job, some military personnel must hold an active security clearance. The process of obtaining a clearance can take up to one year and if a potential employee already holds an active one, it makes the employee that much more valuable to employers. In fact, it is estimated that security clearances can add anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000 to an employees salary.

One of the best places to search for jobs in Northern Virginia within the government field specifically, is the Washington Post. The Washington Post is the D.C.-Metro area's number one source for news information as well as job listings. Many lucrative jobs opportunities are often featured on the newspaper's classifieds section, advertising government contracting jobs.

Lockheed Martin is an advanced technology company, founded in 1995. Northrop Grumman is also an advanced technology company, responsible for manufacturing military aircraft and weapons. Jobs offered by these companies typically appeal to people in the engineering industry.

These companies also offer administrative positions, but mainly focus on the engineering field. Government contractors can work anywhere and are sometimes assigned to locations overseas to complete a mission. Positions are offered on a contractual basis, and the job length is typically determined by the employer.